Stockport run Hull close before defeat

Stockport came away from Hull feeling hard done by as they were beaten 27-21 at Chanterlands Avenue in National League 2 North.

Port felt aggrieved by a number of decisions made by the officials which ultimately cost them the game and saw Hull take a vital step closer to survival in National Two.

Hull’s two first half tries from Greg Lound and Ollie Hardisty were cancelled out by Callum Baldwin and Craig Anthony as Stockport took a 14-12 lead into the break.

Lound’s second try was overshadowed by controversy as in the build up to him scoring, the ball was clearly knocked on five meters but it was missed by the officials.

Lound then took his points haul to 15 when he nudged over a penalty, but Port came up with a response as Mike Waddington touched down.

The officials then played their part in Hull’s final try which was a penalty try. They penalised Waddington in the build-up for being offside when it looked like he had been played onside by the Hull winger, but relentless pressure from Hull saw them secure a massive win.

Stockport coach Matthew Bebbington did not want to comment a lot on the officials after the game, but said: "I’m slightly disappointed because we left two five meter line outs out there. We scored two but missed a couple, however it’s good to know we can compete with a side that essentially throws everything at their 1st XV in terms of finances.

"I think they got away with it at the ruck with the referee a bit slow to react. I think it took him about 60 minutes to do anything about it which was slightly disappointing, but we played our brand of rugby today which is ball in hand and trying to play quick. It is good to know we are still playing with that attacking intent despite being relegated.”

Stockport and Hull have been down the wrong of the table all season, but despite Stockport already knowing they will be playing National Three next season, their performance and effort was unquestionable.

Blustery conditions aided Stockport in the first half as Jonny Edwards found good kicking range, but the first real moment of skill came from the opposite number 10, Lound.

Lound showed a lovely step to evade two Stockport tackles to score the first try of the match after winger James Kirk hit the line from deep to produce a perfect offload.

Port had defended well in the opening exchanges, but their first real foray into the opposition 22 saw them level the scores at 7-7.

Winger Myles Hall made a half break before being tackled very high which went unpunished, but that didn’t hinder Stockport’s progress.

They went on to win a sequence of penalties and eventually Port went over as Baldwin crashed through for the try from a rolling maul from a lineout.

Hull then responded just after the half hour mark as they took advantage of Port not clearing their lines and from the edge of a ruck in the Stockport 22, Hardisty scythed through to score.

But it would be the away side that would establish a 14-12 lead at half-time. Edwards produced another great kick into touch, before Port’s forwards won the resulting Hull lineout.

Waddington then won a penalty and once more a rolling maul from a lineout was affective for Port as Anthony barged his away over on the stroke of half-time. Ashley Platt-Hughes made it two kicks from two with the conversion.

Both sides showed great character in the second half to come from behind to lead this encounter, but when Hull retook the lead on 47 minutes it was very dubious.

There is no question the superb step again from Lound to score was excellent, but the build up to the try was debatable. It was clear that Hull had knocked the ball on, but the referee and his officials did not see it and Hull had a 17-14 lead.

The home side were then reduced to 14 men when Joe Stafford was sin-binned for collapsing the maul, but Stockport couldn’t use this or their pressure from the restart to their advantage as Hull showed a strong defence.

Lound then bisected the posts with an easy penalty after it was moved forward 10 meters by the referee due to ill-discipline from Stockport, but the visitors retook the lead as Waddington waltzed through a gaping hole in the Hull defence to touch down with 16 minutes remaining on the clock.

However, it was Hull who would have the final say as they pounded on the Stockport door in the closing stages of the game.

The hosts won a contentious penalty as Waddington was adjudged to be offside after a Stockport kick, but it looked like the Hull winger and played him back onside, but the officials gave the penalty to Hull.

Hull kicked for the corner and from that they were halted from scoring due to a number of infringements by Stockport. Ollie Longmore was shown the yellow card for handling in the ruck and moments later the referee awarded a penalty try for Hull which was converted by Lound.

With the score at 27-21, Stockport had one more chance. A lovely chip through by Hall and good work by Mike Kaciubskyji and Jamie Anthony set up an opportunity, but they couldn’t find that final cutting edge.

Stockport play their final game in hand next weekend as they host Harrogate at Headlands Road.

Hull: Foster; Kirk, Tanumi, Heard, Hihetah; Lound, Hardisty; Price, Rice, Davies; Devonshire (capt), Corkish; Cook, Sullivan, Stafford.
Replacements: Jobling, Sewell, Matthews, Holland, Thoy.

Tries: Lound (2), Hardisty, Penalty Try
Cons: Lound (2)
Pen: Lound

Stockport: Fletcher; Batterbury, Platt-Hughes, J Anthony, Hall;  J Edwards, Street;  Fuller (capt), Longmore, C Anthony; Roddy, C Hibbs;  Marsland, Baldwin, Waddington.
Replacements:  Graham, Millea, Broadhurst, Kaciubskyji, Barlow.

Tries: Baldwin, C Anthony, Waddington
Cons:  Platt-Hughes (3).